Maximum Persistency via Iterative Relaxed Inference with Graphical Models

We consider the NP-hard problem of MAP-inference for undirected discrete graphical models. We propose a polynomial time and practically efficient algorithm for finding a part of its optimal solution. Specifically, our algorithm marks some labels of the considered graphical model either as (i) optimal, meaning that they belong to all optimal solutions of the inference problem; (ii) non-optimal if they provably do not belong to any solution. With access to an exact solver of a linear programming relaxation to the MAP-inference problem, our algorithm marks the maximal possible (in a specified sense) number of labels. We also present a version of the algorithm, which has access to a suboptimal dual solver only and still can ensure the (non-)optimality for the marked labels, although the overall number of the marked labels may decrease. We propose an efficient implementation, which runs in time comparable to a single run of a suboptimal dual solver. Our method is well-scalable and shows state-of-the-art results on computational benchmarks from machine learning and computer vision.Comment: Reworked version, submitted to PAM

THE ECONOMIC AND LEGAL FRAMEWORK OF THE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: A CONCEPTUAL APPROACH

In practice, at the scale of world economy, reciprocal exchange activities between operators, takes place within an economic-legal determined framework. With regards to the international relationship, the economic and legal framework in the present context of the globalization of the world economy represents the matrix itself of their organization and development on the background of a strong participation of all the states to the world economic channel. An effective use of the legal instruments – which are structural elements of the economic and legal framework of the international relations – represents the sine qua non condition for developing mutually beneficial cooperation between the states.economic and legal framework, international economic relations,international economic negotiations, free trade, protection, trade agreement, trade treaty,

Minimum Number of Probes for Brain Dynamics Observability

In this paper, we address the problem of placing sensor probes in the brain such that the system dynamics' are generically observable. The system dynamics whose states can encode for instance the fire-rating of the neurons or their ensemble following a neural-topological (structural) approach, and the sensors are assumed to be dedicated, i.e., can only measure a state at each time. Even though the mathematical description of brain dynamics is (yet) to be discovered, we build on its observed fractal characteristics and assume that the model of the brain activity satisfies fractional-order dynamics. Although the sensor placement explored in this paper is particularly considering the observability of brain dynamics, the proposed methodology applies to any fractional-order linear system. Thus, the main contribution of this paper is to show how to place the minimum number of dedicated sensors, i.e., sensors measuring only a state variable, to ensure generic observability in discrete-time fractional-order systems for a specified finite interval of time. Finally, an illustrative example of the main results is provided using electroencephalogram (EEG) data.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1507.0720

CONSIDERATIONS REGARDING THE QUANTIFICATION OF THE BENEFITS OF A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT

The practice and economic theory reveal relationships of dependence, between degree of reduction ofpollutant residues, on the one hand, and the cost, as well as the total positive effects which is to be made by the controland the actions of reduction the degree of pollution, on the other hand.Thus, from an ecological point of view, an action may be defined as economically efficient, not only whereensures achievement of the objectives proposed in terms of minimum costs, not only where but also if it ensures at leastkeeping the quality of natural environment. The protection program of the environmental quality drawn up ofenterprises, program included in their strategy of development, to be operational it is necessary to include a series ofindicators such as: the permissible level of pollution of the environment with different substances, acceptable levels ofcontamination from the enterprise products, the volume of expenditure which it involves taking measures for theconservation and protection of the environment, the modality of including in the production cost the expensesrelated to protect the natural environment, etc

Normalised transverse emittance reduction via ionisation cooling in MICE ‘Flip Mode’

Low-emittance muon beams are central to the development of a Muon Collider and can significantly enhance the performance of a Neutrino Factory. The main challenge for muon acceleration stems from the large emittance with which the muon beam is produced. Maximising the muon yield while maintaining a suitably small aperture in the accelerator system requires that the muon beam emittance be reduced (cooled). The international Muon Ionisation Cooling Experiment (MICE) was designed to demonstrate the feasibility of the ionisation cooling technique, and provide the first measurement of normalised transverse emittance reduction in a muon beam. This work focuses on the emittance reduction analysis of 140 MeV/c MICE muon beams that passed through a liquid hydrogen or a lithium hydride absorber. During the acquisition of the studied data sets, the magnetic channel produced a field that flipped polarity at the absorber, to prevent a canonical angular momentum increase. A novel beam sampling procedure was developed to account for imperfections in beam matching at the entrance into the cooling channel, which improved the cooling signal measurement. A reduction in the muon beam normalised transverse emittance that grows linearly with input emittance was observed, which is a clear signal of ionisation cooling. The measurement is consistent with the simulation and the theoretical model. Furthermore, both the liquid hydrogen and the lithium hydride absorbers were found to induce a reduction in the mean canonical angular momentum of the beam. This effect can be attributed to energy loss at the absorber situated at the field polarity flip, combined with an increasing beam size across the absorber region. This result confirms that the field polarity flip at the absorber would maintain a low-magnitude canonical angular momentum within the cooling stage of a future muon facility.Open Acces